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Autonomic Neuropathy and the Pathogenesis of Glaucoma in Diabetes Mellitus
Author(s) -
Moore M.V.,
Jeffcoate W.J.,
Haworth S.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1989.tb01263.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , pathogenesis , glaucoma , autonomic neuropathy , diabetic neuropathy , ophthalmology , endocrinology , biology , genetics , cell culture , neuroblastoma
In order to determine whether ocular hypertension and glaucoma may be a complication of autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus, 30 asymptomatic diabetic patient volunteers were studied. A correlation was sought between reduced anterior chamber depth which is thought to predispose to the development of glaucoma, and two markers of autonomic dysfunction, loss of sinus arrhythmia and reduced diameter of dark adapted pupils. A significant correlation was found between reduced chamber depth and reduced sinus arrhythmia ( r = 0.36, p = 0.025) and between chamber depth and pupil diameter ( r = 0.45, p = 0.006). As expected, there was also a significant correlation between sinus arrhythmia and pupil diameter ( r = 0.68, p < 0.001). The correlation between pupil diameter and sinus arrhythmia, and between pupil diameter and chamber depth was preserved after the data were adjusted for age ( r = 0.54, p < 0.001 and r = 0.35, p = 0.03, respectively), while that between sinus arrhythmia and chamber depth was lost ( r = 0.23, NS). No association was found between intraocular pressure and either marker of autonomic dysfunction, but intraocular pressure was not abnormal (<22 mmHg) in any individual case. These data suggest that autonomic denervation of the eye in diabetes may be associated with alteration of anterior chamber depth.